WEBVTT WITH OUR TOP STORY FELIX: AS PART OF TODAY’S PLEA DEAL, LADARCHECK WILL NEVER AGAIN PRACTICE MEDICINE, TODAY HE AGREED TO GIVE UP HIS MEDIC LICENSE. 73-YEAR-OLD ROBERT LAHDARCHECK LEAVES A SALINAS COURTROOM WEDNESDAY A DISGRACED CARDIOLOGIST WHO WILL NEVER AGAIN PRACTICE MEDICINE. LAHDARCHECK HAD JUST PLEADED NO CONTEST TO A CHARGE HE TOUCHED A WOMAN’S BREASTS FOLLOWING A HEART TEST NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO AT SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. >> Y ARE TO PERMANENTLY RELINQUISH YOUR LICENSE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE. FELIX: AS PART OF A PLEA DEAL, THE FORMER SVMH DOCTOR AGREED TO A LESSER CHARGE OF COMMITING A LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS ACT. IT MEANS HE DOESN’T HAVE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER FOR LIFE BUT IN RETURN LAHDARCHECK AGRE TO NEVER PRACTICE MEDICINE AGAIN. >> IN OUR PLEA NEGOTIATIONS, HE WOULD GIVE AWAY HIS LICENSE TO PROTECT FUTURE PATIENTS FROM BEING VICTIMS. THAT WAS A BIG NEGOTIATING PART FOR US. THAT WAS OUR PRIMARY DESIRE, TO PREVENT HIM FROM HAVING ACCESS TO FUTURE PATIENTS. FELIX: THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE IS REGINA LINARES, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SVMH WHO GAVE US PERMISSION TO USE HER NAME, SHE READ A STATEMENT IN COURT SAYI THE DOCTOR RUINED HER CAREER AND SHE LIVES IN CONSTANT FEAR. LINARES TOLD THE COURT I’M UNABLE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE, MO DAYS I’M DEPRESSED. I FEAR OPENING THE DOOR TO MY HOUSE TO ANYONE I DON’T KNOW. AND SHE ADDRESSED THE HEART DOCTOR SAYING I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU, A MAN WHO HAD THE WORLD AT HIS FINGERTIPS BUT THREW IT AWAY FOR SOME CHEAP THRILLS >> SHE WAS IN A VERY VULNERABLE POSITION. SOMEONE SHE TRUSTED EXPLOITED THAT VULNERABILITY. THAT IS A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE TO GO THROUGH FOR ANYONE. FELIX: TODAY’S RESOLUTION DOES NOT END THE DOCTORS LEGAL TROUBLES. HIS VICTIM IS SUING THE DOCTOR AND SALINAS FOR A - SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. THAT CASE IS STILL ONGOING, BUT TODAY ASSURANCE ROBE LADARCHECK WILL NEVER PRACTICE MEDICINE AGAIN. ERIN: LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE DOCTORS TO TELL THEIR PATIENTS UPFRONT IF THEY’RE ON PROBATION IS FACING A CRITICAL DEADLINE AT THE STATE CAPITO SB 14-48 IS CURRENTLY AWAITING A FLOOR VOTE IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY AND STATE SENATE. THE BILL MUST CLEAR BOTH OF THESE HOUSES BY FRIDAY IN ORDE -- BY FRIDAY. THE BILL AUTHORED BY SENATOR JERRY HILL OF SAN MATEO WOULD CREATE MORE TRANSPARENCY FORCING DOCTORS ON PROBATION FOR SERIOUS MISCONDUCT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEIR PAT

A doctor who worked at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital for more than 20 years pleaded no contest to sexually groping a patient while she was under sedation medications for a heart procedure.

Cardiologist Robert Wlodarczyk, 73, of Monterey, pleaded no contest to one count of lewd conduct. His victim, Regina Linares, was an employee of SVMH who resigned because Wlodarczyk was not removed from the hospital in the months following the incident.

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Wlodarczyk was allowed to continue practicing medicine at SVMH until July, when the hospital revoked his privileges to work there.

Linares reached out to KSBW and gave permission for her name to be made public.

She underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure on Oct. 21, 2016.

"During this procedure, Jane Doe was given various medications, including Versed and Fentanyl, and placed under sedation. After the procedure was concluded, two medical personnel observed Wlodarczyk place his hands on Jane Doe’s breasts for about 30 seconds while he was speaking to Jane Doe. Jane Doe was wearing a medical gown, and was covered with a blanket and a drape at the time. Wlodarczyk placed his hands on Doe over her gown, blanket, and drapes. Due to the sedation, Jane Doe was not aware that Wlodarczyk was touching her breasts," the Monterey County District Attorney's Office wrote.

The two witnesses reported the incident to hospital management. But Linares says she didn’t find out about the suspected groping until the following month.

“I started crying. I felt humiliated, and embarrassed, and angry,” Linares told KSBW.

As a victim and an employee of the hospital for 17 years, Linares says SVMH didn’t protect her.

"When I complained to SVMH’s human resources and to my managers about how uncomfortable I was around him, I was told I should not look at him and walk the other way. When I objected that it did not seem fair that as a victim, I was being asked to change my conduct -- to basically hide whenever I encountered my perpetrator -- the hospital’s response was, ‘Are we going to have a problem?’" Linares told KSBW.

Wlodarczyk was sentenced by Judge Thomas Wills Wednesday to three years of probation and 180 days in custody suspended. Wlodarczyk is required to permanently relinquish his medical license.

She said, "You’ve ruined my career, in essence, taking my life with it. You’ve reduced me from a person that grabbed ahold of life and lived life to the fullest to a woman who lives in fear. I’m unable to leave my house most days. I’m depressed, even though I’m on anti-depressants. I’m angry, frustrated, hurt and feel hopeless by the turn of events that have reshaped my life. But mostly I’m hurt and unable to understand how you could do this to me. As far you not having to sign the sex offender list, I feel that you should be on the list with the other predators. One day I will forgive you, because by forgiving, I will find peace. But not today.”